Welcome to the Mad in America podcast, a new weekly discussion that searches for the truth about psychiatric prescription drugs and mental health care worldwide.

This podcast is part of Mad in America’s mission to serve as a catalyst for rethinking psychiatric care. We believe that the current drug-based paradigm of care has failed our society and that scientific research, as well as the lived experience of those who have been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, calls for profound change.

On the podcast over the coming weeks, we will have interviews with experts and those with lived experience of the psychiatric system.

Thank you for joining us as we discuss the many issues around rethinking psychiatric care around the world.

This week on MIA Radio, we
discuss the UK Royal College of Psychiatrists representation on a
Government-led review of Prescribed Drug Dependence. Professor Sami
Timimi, a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatry, and 30 other
mental health experts, have formally asked the College to ‘replace
Professor David Baldwin as its representative on The Expert
Reference Group of Public Health England’s Review of Prescribed
Medicines, with an RCPsych member who is not compromised by
conflicts of interest with the pharmaceutical industry’.

In this podcast, we hear from Professor Timimi, Psychiatrist
Peter Gordon and campaigner Stevie Lewis. Both Peter and Stevie are
people who have experienced withdrawal effects from antidepressant
drugs.

Conflicts of Interest Questioned in Royal College of
Psychiatry’s Participation in Government-Led Mental Health
Medication Review

August 17, 2018

From: James Moore, antidepressant withdrawal sufferer, on
behalf of the 30 other signatories to today’s letter.

London, UK – A fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatry,
and 30 other mental health experts, have today formally asked the
College to ‘replace Professor David Baldwin as its representative
on The Expert Reference Group of Public Health England’s Review of
Prescribed Medicines, with an RCPsych member who is not compromised
by conflicts of interest with the pharmaceutical industry’.

The Public Health England review1 was set up to
examine a growing problem with patients becoming dependent on
psychiatric drugs including antidepressants. In the UK, four
million people are long-term antidepressant users2, with
many of those unable to come off their drugs without debilitating
and protracted withdrawal symptoms. Signatories to the complaint
include 10 people whose withdrawal experiences have lasted between
one and ten years, plus 11 psychiatrists and 8 mental health
professors.

The signatories are worried that he could be unduly influenced
by the large number of pharmaceutical manufacturers he has received
income from. This concern is exacerbated by Professor Baldwin’s
having already publicly minimised the withdrawal effects of
antidepressants (Times 24.2.18), which was described as
‘misleading’ the public in the House of Lords3and led to
a formal complaint against him4.

Lead author of the letter, psychiatrist Professor Sami Timimi, a
fellow of the Royal College, said:

“DESPITE THE INCREASED AWARENESS OF THE PERNICIOUS INFLUENCE
OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IN ALL SPHERES OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE
RCPSYCH DOES NOT APPEAR TROUBLED BY THE POTENTIAL FOR MISLEADING
THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC AND SOILING THE GOOD NAME OF
THE PROFESSION OF PSYCHIATRY. WE FEEL THE NEED TO MAKE PUBLIC OUR
OPPOSITION TO SOMEONE SO CONNECTED WITH THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY
BEING THE RCPSYCH’S REPRESENTATIVE ON A PUBLIC BODY APPOINTED WITH
THE TASK OF WORKING FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.”

Another signatory, psychiatrist Dr Peter Gordon said:

“EVIDENCE HAS REPEATEDLY FOUND THAT COMPETING FINANCIAL
INTERESTS CAN LEAD TO DOCTORS RECOMMENDING WORSE TREATMENTS FOR
PATIENTS5. IN THE UK, THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY SPENDS
OVER £40 MILLION A YEAR ON DOCTORS AND ACADEMICS WHO MARKET AND
PROMOTE THEIR PRODUCTS6. I HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH
MY COLLEGE FOR MANY YEARS ON THIS, YET IT REMAINS THE CASE THAT THE
ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS STILL HAS NO SINGLE, SEARCHABLE
REGISTER THAT RECORDS FULL DETAILS OF INDUSTRY PAYMENTS MADE TO ITS
MEMBERS. IT IS THEREFORE IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE THE SCALE OF
PAYMENTS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MADE TO COLLEGE MEMBERS WHO ARE
INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING POLICIES AND GUIDELINES OR EDUCATING ON THE
PRESCRIBING OF PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS.”

Antidepressant withdrawal sufferer James Moore, also a
signatory, said:

“THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE LIKE ME, WHO HAVE FOUND
THEMSELVES IN SEVERE DIFFICULTY AFTER TRYING TO COME OFF PRESCRIBED
ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS. IN ORDER TO PROPERLY INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE,
IT IS VITAL THAT THE INFLUENCE OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS
IS NOT ALLOWED TO CORRUPT AN EVIDENCE-BASED AND HONEST APPRAISAL OF
A PROBLEM POTENTIALLY AFFECTING MILLIONS OF PSYCHIATRIC DRUG
USERS.”

About the Podcast

Welcome to the Mad in America podcast, a new weekly discussion that searches for the truth about psychiatric prescription drugs and mental health care worldwide.
This podcast is part of Mad in America’s mission to serve as a catalyst for rethinking psychiatric care and mental health. We believe that the current drug-based paradigm of care has failed our society and that scientific research, as well as the lived experience of those who have been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, calls for profound change.
On the podcast over the coming weeks, we will have interviews with experts and those with lived experience of the psychiatric system. Thank you for joining us as we discuss the many issues around rethinking mental health around the world.
For more information visit madinamerica.com
To contact us email podcasts@madinamerica.com